East Chattanooga, TN to Ripley, TN is 305.4 miles and takes about 5h 51m via I 40 and I 24, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. With 94% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. It's a manageable one-day drive, so you have flexibility in your departure time and can plan for a single stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
152.7 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
109.8 mi
1h 57m
I 24
107.5 mi
2h
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
TN 19
15.7 mi
23m
East Main Street
9.5 mi
14m
Dodson Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Eastland Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
North Willow Street
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 109.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 9 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,974 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,367
Quietest
2 AM
~348 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Chattanooga, TN and Ripley, TN.
1
Start on North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft·10 sec·North Chamberlain Avenue
2
Turn sharp left onto SR 17
0.4 mi·37 sec·Glass Street
3
Turn left onto SR 17
1.8 mi·3 min·Dodson Avenue
4
Turn right onto SR 17
0.1 mi·21 sec·East 3rd Street
5
Turn left onto SR 17
1.1 mi·2 min·North Willow Street
6
Turn left onto US 41; US 76
356 ft·8 sec·East Main Street
7
Turn right onto South Kelley Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Kelley Street
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
9
Merge onto I 24
108 mi·2 hr·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 840
54 mi·58 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 40
110 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 40
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley
14
Turn right onto US 70
9.5 mi·14 min·East Main Street
15
Enter roundabout onto TN 54
401 ft·10 sec·West Main Street
16
Continue on TN 54
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
17
Turn right onto Haralson Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Haralson Street
18
Turn right onto TN 19
16 mi·23 min·TN 19
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto Eastland Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·Eastland Avenue
20
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Highland Avenue
21
Turn right onto South Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Jefferson Street
22
Turn right onto West Washington Street
314 ft·13 sec·West Washington Street
23
Arrive at destination
East Washington Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 51-minute duration, leaving East Chattanooga in the morning is a good plan to ensure you arrive in Ripley with plenty of daylight. You'll want to budget around $48 for fuel, and it's wise to fill up before leaving or at a major exit along I 40. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point or at a convenient rest area. The longest stretch without a major exit is over 100 miles on I 40, so be sure to take a break before or after that segment if needed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 152.7 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 67 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.7 miles or 2h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ripley, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East Chattanooga, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from East Chattanooga, TN
This is one driving day of about 305.4 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from East Chattanooga, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 109.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 276.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 17 / Glass Street
Turn sharp left onto SR 17 / Glass Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
4.3 mi into trip|~8m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
111.8 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
5
112.7 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
276.1 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.10 one way
$90.20 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$49.79
$99.58
premium
$4.72
$56.70
$113.41
diesel
$4.80
$57.67
$115.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.6
1
$32.07
$14.66
Efficient EV
76.4
0
$26.72
$12.22
EV Truck/SUV
122.2
1
$42.76
$19.55
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
East Chattanooga, TN
Late night
in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
5:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 0 to 5 mph44% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 3:50PM EDT until July 17 at 6:45PM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:09PM CDT until July 17 at 5:15PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
Destination
Ripley, TN
Late night
in Ripley on Sunday
Local time
4:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
WNW 5 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 3:50PM EDT until July 17 at 6:45PM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:09PM CDT until July 17 at 5:15PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 51m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 105.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 94% of the 305.4 miles on interstates like I 40 and I 24. You'll encounter a long stretch of 109.8 miles on I 40, which means extended periods of cruising. Expect a significant number of exits along the way, particularly as you navigate these major arteries. The transition to surface roads will occur towards the end of your drive, likely in the final few miles before Ripley.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 24. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 17 / Glass Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 51m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 17 / Glass Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.3 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
998 ft355 ft
Total Climb
863 ft
Total Descent
1,102 ft
Highest Point
998 ft
~65.4 mi in
Elevation Range
643 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from East Chattanooga, TN to Ripley, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
The longest stretch is about 109.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 17 / Glass Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.3 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ripley, TN before the return drive.
